Flagler Palm Coast runs over Spruce Creek

Derron Green's 215-yard night leads the way

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Flagler Palm Coast needed something to juice up its offense after a couple of weeks of rather sluggish performance. Derron Green was the man to do it Thursday night.

The big power back rushed for a season high 215 yards and four touchdowns to lift the Bulldogs to a 38-24 win over Spruce Creek. Green's effort helped FPC overcome a pair of first half turnovers and improved the team record to 3-2 heading into a bye week.

The Bulldogs looked sluggish at times, giving up two first half touchdowns and trailing 14-10 at halftime. After a halftime talk with the team and his assistants, that's when coach Caesar Campana decided to stop fooling around and turned Green loose.

"We told our kids we have to win this game headed into the meat of our schedule. We simplified things and decided we're just going to go downhill and give it to No. 2 (Green)," Campana said.

Although he rushed for 82 yards and a 15-yard touchdown in the first half, Green was ready after the break. Carrying the ball on five of six plays in the opening series of the half and helped by a key 29-yard pass completion, Green bulled through from 2 yards out to give FPC a 17-14 lead.

The defense forced a punt, and on the ensuing drive, Green cashed in for the second time on a 1-yard plunge.

Spruce Creek cut the lead to 24-17 early in the fourth quarter on a 22-yard field goal from Jaggar Lieb. But FPC pulled away for good when Bentlee Critcher rolled out and threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Andre Gillis.

The stubborn Hawks refused to yield, though. After a third-down sack by FPC linebacker Nick Maiori forced a decision, Creek quarterback Johnny Strahl was hit as he released a touchdown pass down the right sideline covering 61 yards to Derron Brown.

An FPC fumble recovered by Spruce Creek gave the Hawks a shot to tie the game, but the Bulldog defense rose to the occasion and forced a turnover on downs at the Spruce Creek 18. Two plays later Green scored his third touchdown of the half to put the game on ice.

"All the credit goes to the offensive line," Green said. "Basically, we had some seniors step up and say we have to come together as a unit."

Strahl had a solid game for Spruce Creek, throwing two touchdown passes and connecting 13 times for 168 yards, by far his best performance of the season. Hawk sophomore running back Michael Colubiale also scored a first half rushing touchdown, but the Hawks dropped to 1-4 with the loss.